Windows 10: Gurus how do Windows computers browse network for new computers

Hi folks

In a Local LAN -- no domain controllers etc -- just in typical Home type or small Office LAN's:

Using a Linux server in SAMBA one computer always works as "The Master Browser" and any time a new computer logs on to your LAN whether Windows or Linux clients it sends a signal which then registers the IP address of the logged on machine and makes it visible -- just use command systemctl status nmb(d) -l - could be either nmb or nmbd depending on your distro.

Windows also picks this up and the computers are visible. Not only the Linux server to Windows but all the windows computers to each other and of course any Linux clients too.

The election as to who is the master browser is usually the first computer that is booted or via the parameter in the [global] section of samba.cnf -- the parameter is os level = xx --the higher the number the higher priority gets in the "master Browser auction" -- i.e who's boss. !!

With a windows only network how is this managed if computers arrive and leave the LAN and if the local IP address changes as well.

Further if the Linux network master browser changes local IP (that happens if you either don't assign a fixed local IP address on the router -- doing that is not a good idea anyway or don't change the DHCP lease time to something sensible on your router) any clients are suddenly unable to see the server again until you re-start the SAMBA services.

I have no idea what happens in a Windows network but there must be some type of "Boss Computer" organising the Network browsing and if the IP address (local) changes then all sorts of problems can arise.

Any gurus out there who can explain how Windows does Network browsing and is there such a thing as a "master browser" and how does it work when computers join or leave the network.

Here's the main server on a Linux server NAS as master brower at 192.168.1.27






Now a new Linux client joins and the server (192.168.1.27) registers the Linux client as 192.168.1.23 and it's immediately visible to the whole LAN including windows clients.





How Windows manages this stuff I really have ZERO knowlege- any decent links or explanations

Perhaps I'm understanding why Windows Networking people are a paid a small fortune -- to me it works like the old NTSC TV system in the states --Never Twice the Same Colour!!!!!.

Really appreciate some education on this -- Linux networking I can understand but Windows networking to me has evolved little beyond "Gandalf the Wizard" principles !!!!

Cheers
jimbo

:)

 

Unable to browse network computers.

We suggest creating a new administrator user account by following the steps
here. Make sure to use the same network settings that you used for your other computers, then check if you can connect to the home network. Since you also mentioned that Windows 10 was freshly installed on this particular computer, have you already downloaded
the latest updates? The latest build for Version 1607 is 14393.1715, and 15063.608 for Version 1703. You can check the build version of your computer by following these steps:

• Click Start.
• Type winver and press Enter.

If you don't have the latest updates, you can follow these steps to install them:

• Click Start.
• Go to Settings.
• Click Update & security.
• Click Check for updates.

If that doesn't work, we'd like screenshots of the network and file sharing settings of the computer that doesn't work, and the settings of one of your other computers that can connect and share files properly on the home network.

 

Unable to browse network computers.

Hi Alex,

It's possible that some settings are preventing you from seeing other computers through File Explorer in your network. We'd like to learn more about your concern so that we could provide the proper resolution. We just have a few questions for you:

• Were you previously able to see the other computers in the homegroup, or were they missing ever since this particular computer joined the network?
• Did you make any recent changes to your computer before this started happening?
• What troubleshooting steps have you done so far?

 

Unable to browse network computers.

We appreciate the information you provided. Check if all computers in the homegroup have the same time and date. Each computer must also have a different computer name. To rename your computers and make sure they all belong to the same workgroup, follow
these steps:

• Go to Settings.
• Click System.
• Click About.
• Click Additional administrative tools.
• If a prompt appears, click Yes.
• Go to the Computer Name tab, and click Change.
• Enter the computer name that you want, and make sure the Workgroup name is the same for all computers.
• Click OK three times.
• Click Close.
  
  Note: Make sure to save and close any files or programs before proceeding to the next step to avoid data loss.
• Click Restart now.
• Launch File Explorer and click Network.
• You should see the other computers in the network. If not, you'll get a prompt to Turn on network discovery and file sharing.
  Choose the correct option depending on the type of your network connection.
• Press F5 to refresh File Explorer. The other computers in the network should now be displayed.

Let us know if you're able to see the other computers in the homegroup successfully after following these steps.